Art
This 1923 photograph captures the interior of Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island—one of America's oldest Jewish congregations, founded in 1658. For everyday Jewish families, the synagogue was more than a place of worship; it was the center of community life, where faith, culture, and belonging intersected.
Art · Full story
You step inside and your eyes adjust to the soft light filtering through tall windows. The wooden pews stretch before you in orderly rows. Above, an ornate bimah—the reading platform—commands attention, while the Ark containing Torah scrolls glows at the front. The air holds the quiet anticipation of a community gathering to mark time, remember their roots, and say prayers together.
Reflect
What physical space in your own life brings your community together? What makes it feel like home?